As 2020 draws to a close there is much for us to reflect on, both in terms of what we have achieved this year and the challenges and opportunities ahead. With that in mind, I am inviting you to an All Staff Webinar on Wednesday 16 December 2:00 - 3.30pm.
Alongside colleagues from the Senior Management Team, I will be sharing an update on our Corporate Plan, GC’s financial outlook, and a preview of our future ways of working.
Given the importance of this update for everyone across Group, this session will be mandatory so please add the date to your diaries. A reminder and full joining instructions will be shared with you next week.
During the webinar, I will touch on the salary sacrifice scheme and I am pleased to confirm this will end in February as proposed. No further contributions will be sought with salaries reverting to usual at the end of the six-month period.
Spreading a little festive cheer
This has been a challenging year to say the very least! Your contribution in not only maintaining our core offer but providing additional support and services has been crucial to our performance and success. I know that at times we have been stretched but YOU have made a huge difference to those businesses and individuals who need it most, and of this you should all be rightly proud.
By way of thanks, we will be gifting all staff an additional two days annual leave. On top of this, we will be awarding an additional day of leave to all those whose salaries were reduced this year whether through furlough or participation in the salary sacrifice scheme in recognition of your added contribution to the business. I know this will have hurt, and your support during this time is massively valued. Thank you!
One of these leave days should be taken on Thursday 24 December, enabling you to extend your well-earned break over the holidays. The remaining time should be taken in agreement with your line manager before the end of March 2021. In some other cases there may be a business rationale to close a particular office or function and your SMT member will be in touch if this applies to you.
If you have already booked off Christmas Eve, please cancel this in Unit 4. Whilst discussing leave – a reminder to book any remaining annual leave as soon as possible, as you will recall we are not able to carry this over into the next financial year. It is important that we all take our annual leave entitlement to support positive health and wellbeing; and it is vital in enabling the business to plan resources and deliver services effectively in what will undoubtedly be another busy period for the Group.
Finally… it’s virtually Christmas – sorry for that one 😊
Usually, we would be marking this time of year with our GC Christmas party. Unfortunately, we are unable to do this under the current restrictions. Instead, I would like to invite you to clear your diary on Friday 18 December from 10am-2pm to allow for virtual Christmas celebrations to take place simultaneously across the Group.
We will be kicking the day off with a couple of events for the whole Group to come together virtually before breaking off for individual team celebrations.
Here is what we have planned for the day:
- 10:00-10:30am – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and competition winners
- 10:30-11:30am – GC’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year: get your teams together and join in to win
- 11:30am-2pm – Team celebrations. If you’re looking for ideas, take a look at these and what some of your colleagues have planned.
Please lookout for an email from the GC Social Committee next week with all the details of our Christmas Competition and how to register your Quiz teams.